RoadVitals

2006 Buick Lacrosse Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Mar 9, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 299 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Buick Lacrosse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 9, 2018

MY CAR GOES INTO STARTING DISABLE AND IT CUTS THE CAR OFF IN TRAFFIC HAVING ME WAIT FOR ATLEAST 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO RESTART

NHTSA ID
11078291
Incident
Aug 10, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 21, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10659947
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
170,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 23, 2014

FOR YEARS, GOING BACK TO WHEN IT HAD A WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP EVEN WORKED ON IT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAS HAD ONE OR TWO CALLS IN THE YEARS SINCE FOR SAME PROBLEM, SES LIGHT COMES ON, IT USED TO GO OFF AND ON OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOW HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR OR SO CONSTANTLY. IT IS FOR DIAGNOSTIC CODE P2440 (SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK OPEN). DEALERSHIP REPLACED VALVE AND/OR AIR PUMP YEARS AGO AND SAID IT WOULD FIX IT, BUT IT DIDN'T. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR SAME THING. I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID I COULD BRING IT BACK, BUT IT WOULD BE ON MY DIME BECAUSE THEY BARELY GOT IT COVERED THE FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY. WE PUT UP WITH IT FOR A BIT, THEN I PURCHASED A NEW VALVE AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF, LIGHT DID NOT GO OUT AND IT STILL TO THIS DAY SAYS THE VALVE (NEW ONE EVEN) IS STUCK OPEN. PROBLEM IS, WHEN THE SES LIGHT IS ON, THE REMOTE STARTER WON'T WORK, WHICH IS VERY UPSETTING FOR ME AND MY WIFE. FOR YEARS, JUST LIKE THE FIRST PROBLEM LISTED, IT WAS INITIALLY ?FIXED? WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH ONLY WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN! SOMETIMES IT REGISTERS A PERSON, SOMETIMES NOT. IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT IS, OR THE TEMPERATURE IN THE CAR. SOMETIMES IT THINKS THAT MY WIFE (160 LBS) IS A CHILD AND DOESN'T TURN THE AIR BAG ON AND THEN IF WE HIT A BUMP (SOMETIMES WORKS) THEN IT MIGHT TURN IT ON. IT ALSO HAS TIMES THAT IT ALSO TURNS ON THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WHILE IT SAYS OFF FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG. YEARS AGO WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY SAID THEY ?FIXED IT? INITIALLY, BUT IT WAS JUST A SHORT TIME LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO LET THEM KNOW, THEY SAID JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM LISTED ABOVE, THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AND THAT I'D HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, SO I DIDN'T TAKE IT IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638331
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER BRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10630153
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE RACK AND PINION AND MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,446 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,289.

NHTSA ID
10610705
Incident
Sep 24, 2013
Mileage
120,446 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,500.

NHTSA ID
10576362
Incident
Mar 25, 2014
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 16, 2013
Fire reported

DRIVING AT 45MPH, SMELLED SMOKE FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE DRIVING TIME, THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER CUT OFF. GOT SOMEONE TO HELP PUSH THE CAR OFF ROAD WHEN ANOTHER PERSON NOTICE THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED BUT ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. POLICE AND FIRE MARSHALL DETERMINED FIRE CAME FROM ELECTRICAL FUSE BOX INITIALLY. CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556250
Incident
Dec 14, 2013
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID
10537237
Incident
Aug 5, 2013
Mileage
128,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 27, 2013

LOOSING ANTIFREEZE AND CANT FIND LEAK. WHEN DRIVING I CAN SMELL IT AND WHEN I CHECK THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL IT'S LOW. CAN'T FIND A LEAK, BUT I'M ADDING ANTIFREEZE TO OFTEN 1 GL. EVERY OTHER WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513688
Incident
Apr 25, 2013
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 20, 2007

AT 12K MILES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUED TO GO ON AND OFF DEPENDENT OF THE RPM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A CAM SHAFT FAILURE AND DUE TO THAT FAILURE OTHER SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, MY STEERING SHAFT WAS ALSO WORN AT 12K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AND FURTHERMORE, I HAVE HAD CHRONIC ISSUES WITH MY GAUGE LIGHTS DIMMING AND UNDIMMING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE CAR UNFIXED. VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW CAR AND WILL NOT BUY GM EVERY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212407
Incident
Oct 19, 2007
Engine
Filed May 16, 2006

I BOUGHT A BUICK LACROSSE VIN [XXX] ON MARCH 30, 2006. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MARCH 31, 2006, AND HAD A PROBLEM WITH A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT THAT DAY. I WAS SICK AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR BUT ATTEMPTED TO USE ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AND I E-MAILED THE DEALER CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. UPON MY RECOVERY, I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 7, 2006. ON APRIL 10, 2006, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONTACTED AND INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDS A REPAIR TO THE CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS DEFECT EXISTED THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR, IT HAD 87 MILES ON IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP, AND SINCE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED THE MORNING I PICKED IT UP, THE DEALER ALLOWED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT TO BE SOLD AND DELIVERED. UPON CONTACTING BUICK TO MAKING BUICK IS AWARE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED AND SEEKING RESOLUTION THE DEALER PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE DEALER OR BUICK TO SELL A DEFECTIVE CAR AND BELIEVE THAT PUTTING A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. I HAVE COMPLAINT TO BUICK AND THE DEALER ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIME BUT I GET STONE WALLED, THEY COMPLETELY IGNORE THE PROBLEM EXISTING PRIOR TO ME BUYING AND TAKING DELIVERY OF THE CAR. I HAVE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, PARTIAL, OR TOTAL REFUND AND I'M IGNORED. ALL BUICK DOES IS OFFER OIL CHANGES AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH I FIND USELESS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ONSTAR MODULE FAILED, APRIL 22, 2006, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10157626
Incident
Mar 31, 2006
Mileage
87 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 6, 2006

THE LOW OIL PRESSURE ALARM RANG AFTER ONLY 1542 MILES DEALER MADE APPT FOR 2/21 - WASN'T WORRIED "PROBABLY ONLY A FALSE ALARM". THE ALARM RANG AGAIN AT 1550 MILES. I MADE THE DEALER TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER. GM HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO METAL IN OIL PAN. I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT AND DON'T FEEL THE CAR IS WORTH A NEW CAR PRICE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149586
Incident
Jan 20, 2006
Mileage
1,550 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .